Hillmen Outlast East Dubuque in overtime thriller 91-88

Fans inside the gym were treated to a high-octane, back-and-forth battle Friday night as Platteville edged East Dubuque 91–88 in overtime in a boys varsity basketball showdown that featured momentum swings, big shots, and clutch free throws down the stretch.

East Dubuque set the tone early, racing out to a 41-35 halftime lead but the Hillmen would respond with an explosive second half. The Hillmen poured in 48 points after the break, using aggressive transition play and pressure defense to claw back and force overtime in a game that was tied at the end of regulation.

However, to get to overtime it would take some heroics by Jauron Blevins. After East Dubuque would miss the second of two free throws with 8.9 seconds left. Will Zielinski grabbed the defensive rebound and passed the ball to Blevins. Jauron would dribble just past half court and gain just enough space to launch a 35-foot prayer that was answered at the buzzer to get the game to the extra session

In the extra session, Platteville made the plays that mattered most, outscoring East Dubuque 8–5 to seal the dramatic three-point victory.

Senior Jauron Blevins led Platteville with a game-high 21 points, knocking down five three-pointers and shouldering much of the scoring load throughout the night. Grady Poppy added 20 points, along with a team-best 8 assists, while logging heavy minutes and controlling the tempo. Braden Streight chipped in 19 points, providing timely buckets and strong two-way play, and Myron Reuter finished with 18 points, converting 6-of-7 free throws in a steady performance.

Platteville’s ability to turn defense into offense proved decisive. The Hillmen scored 28 transition points and 27 points off turnovers, forcing East Dubuque into 18 turnovers while committing just 7 of their own. Platteville also won the hustle battle with 18 deflections and 12 steals, consistently disrupting East Dubuque’s rhythm.

Despite East Dubuque holding an edge on the glass with 15 offensive rebounds, Platteville’s efficiency—shooting 51.6% effective field goal percentage and converting 71.4% from the free throw line—helped tip the scales in overtime.

The win showcased Platteville’s depth, toughness, and ability to execute under pressure, as the Hillmen walked away with a hard-earned overtime victory that will be remembered as one of the season’s most exciting finishes. The Hillmen, now 8-8 on the season, will return to action on Friday evening they host SWC leading Lancaster at 7:30 PM at Platteville High School.